- The mini Mercedes G-Class will rival Land Rover’s baby Defender.
- Underpinning the SUV will be a bespoke ladder frame chassis.
- Launches as an EV, but combustion power remains a possibility.
Sales of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class surged 23 percent last year to a record 49,700 vehicles. Not bad for a machine that still drives like it could climb a mountain on the school run. Now, those who can’t get enough of the G-Wagen will soon have another compelling, albeit smaller, option.
Read: Mercedes Wants This Baby G-Wagen To Win Buyers The Big One Never Could
The so-called ‘Little G’ is on the way, promising all the boxy attitude of the full-size model in a tighter, more affordable package. Positioned beneath the full-size model, the Little G marks Mercedes’ first serious attempt to stretch the G-Class name beyond a single model line.
A Compact G Takes Shape
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Also known as the mini G and baby G, this new addition to the Mercedes-Benz line-up should have enthusiasts paying close attention. It’s expected to rival the smaller Defender currently in development at Jaguar Land Rover. For now, it’s confirmed to launch as an all-electric model, while a combustion-powered version remains possible in the future.
The latest round of spyshots of the Little G shows the model testing in the depths of the European winter. While this prototype is still under heavy camouflage and some body cladding, there’s no hiding the overall shape. It looks just like a G-Class should, just scaled to about 70 percent and softened slightly around the edges.
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Found at the front are the circular headlights you’d expect, with outer rings that serve as the turn signals. It also has blocky front quarter panels and a remarkably flat hood. This particular prototype can also be seen on a set of mismatched wheels and with a pair of roof rails. Although future powertrain options have not been detailed, this prototype is clearly an EV, as evidenced by the lack of exhaust.
Like the larger G 580 with EQ Technology, the test cars appear to retain signature details such as a side-hinged rear door and an external spare wheel cover. On the electric version, that rear-mounted housing is expected to double as storage for charging cables, echoing the setup already offered on the full-size EV.
Bespoke Bones Beneath The Boxy Body
Underpinning the new model will be a bespoke chassis. According to the former chief technology officer of Mercedes, Markus Schäfer, the Little G will have a “miniature ladder-frame chassis,” adding that it will have similar qualities “when it comes to suspension and wheel size,” to the larger model.
EV Rollout Plan
Mercedes is set to launch the baby G as a fully electric SUV. Exact battery sizes and motor outputs are still under wraps, but expect it to borrow heavily from the tech already rolling out in Merc’s newer EVs, including the GLA and GLC electric models.
What it won’t get, according to Schäfer, is a range-extender setup. Smaller and mid-size Mercedes models are steering clear of that halfway-house solution, which means the Little G should stick with proper, full battery-electric hardware.
As for combustion power, nothing is confirmed. Mercedes hasn’t shut the door on it, but it hasn’t opened it either. If an ICE version does materialize, it’ll likely depend on the market. For now, the company is keeping its options open.
